It's sad what has happened to the classics

[rrehkemper]

I've been revisiting some of the classic tequilas that I started with but haven't tried in a while. It has been very dissapointing and I don't think its because my tastes have changed. The newly redesigned bottles of Don Julio and Herradura anejos look good but the juice in the bottles sure aint what they used to be. Both have gone from personal favorites to Tequilas I won't buy again. Don Julio now has a nasty "yeasty" taste and Herradura has lost that "bubble gum" flavor and tastes more like a "cheap roasted chile" flavor. The Don Julio was barely drinkable and the Herradura is to be banished to the back of the cabinet as undrinkable

The question is, is it because of a change in methods (I think I heard that both have new distilleries) or a drop in quality of Agaves?

Anyone notice any other classics become undrinkable?

[jasonrm72]

Frankly, I feel the same way. They both are now off my shelf and most likely will not make a reappearance.
Don Julio I can still drink (but no longer look forward to), but by the time I finished my last bottle of the Herradura anejo, I simply did not like it any more.
There are too many other tequilas in the same price range that are vastly superior in taste. Hanging onto nostalgia just isnt my thing, and tequila is no exception.

[jehowe]

Looks like I'll be substituting any future DJ purchase! You do raise a good question, and I've wondered if Tequila is susceptible to vintage variations that can effect the end product, even if everything else in the process remains the same.

[ChavoCheque]

You don't say what were the good ol' days for you, but I would guess it was before Herradura was bought by Brown Forman and Don Julio by Cuervo.

DJ's process has not changed nearly as much as Herradura's, but when a new boss imposes a new bottom line, changes are inevitable.

[1tequila2]

Nothing against any of the posts here but personally along with a complaint I'd like to see a couple of notes about one or two current or past tequilas that you do enjoy. This way we can maybe see where your taste preferences are. I mean recently several tequila pros where blind judging and came up with Herradura as their choice for best repo. Can we as tequila aficionados really be that far apart? Obviously so in some instances. I'm not defending Don Julio or Herradura nor am I disagreeing with the comments. I just wanted to add my thoughts about giving readers more information as to what you do like and prefere along with what you don't like or miss about a tequila. That being said, currently I have decided I don't like several bottles of tequila that I bought to do some comparisons. I could barely drink the Lunazul or the El Jimador repos when compared to a couple of favorites, Casa Noble, 3 Amigos, and Centinela. The last time I drank Herradura or Don Julio repo I enjoyed them more than the two I mentioned above. Things are always changing though and today I may find that I don't like them as much. Disappointingly, methods, materials, and managements do change at distilleries that will result in variations. In some cases rendering "classics" undrinkable. Today there are many tequila profiles that we just can't find anymore, Fina Estampa, ETWL, or Chinaco/1921. Some consistent top shelf tequilas that I do still enjoy include Fortaleza, Alquimia and Casa Noble. My taste preferences tend to be on the slightly sweeter, caramel fruity, earth and spice side of the spectrum. I also enjoy and like many tequilas that do not necessarily fit the above profile, such as Don Valente, Arrette, and Penca Azul, but that's just me. I'm sure that given no limits on money this post would change considerably. I'm still a virtual amateur when it comes to agave spirits. I'm just glad for the many artisan producers who really care about the tequila they bottle. Let's hope that "all good things must come to an end" doesn't always apply in the world of agave spirits.

[ChavoCheque]

very fair question/point, 1tequila2. Remember too that our public user profiles offer a good first clue to what our taste are.

In general, it sounds like you and I have pretty similar tastes. I'd distinguish mine from yours a bit by saying I still do enjoy the Chinaco line (while recognizing it doesn't touch the old juice). FWIW, old 1921 was a favorite and I don't really touch the new stuff. I'd also add 7 Leguas and Aha Toro as huge favorites. Corrido (especially the blanco, and NOT the repo) is another go-to. I want my tequila to taste like agave and I don't want flavor sacrificed at the altar of smoothness.

All that said, I really cannot drink the current formulation of Herradura. It tastes like chemicals to me. Don Julio is decent, but the blanco is rough. It's widely available, and it's always a relief to see it on a back bar, as opposed to any of the Sauza brands, for example. I'm curious if your reference to Herradura being blind-judged as the best repo refers to the New Mexico festival, something else, or both. In any case, I think you are over-stating the distinction between 'expert' and 'aficionado,' but that's likely a topic for a whole other thread. At the same time, I am reluctant to question the results of blind tastings - they are incredibly powerful tools for getting past preconceptions, marketing, etc. BUT I know my tastes, and all the awards in the world can't change them.

Finally, I don't think Lunazul and Jimador are even in the same league with your favorites. They are, at the end of the day, price point tequilas. While I actually enjoy Lunazul, it's primarily my go-to mixer. Jimador (a Herradura product) is far less tasty to me, but I'm happy to see it used as a well, rather than a mixto.

Hope that gives you some sense of where I am coming from. Salud!

[rrehkemper]

Originally Posted by 1tequila2

Nothing against any of the posts here but personally along with a complaint I'd like to see a couple of notes about one or two current or past tequilas that you do enjoy. This way we can maybe see where your taste preferences are. I mean recently several tequila pros where blind judging and came up with Herradura as their choice for best repo. Can we as tequila aficionados really be that far apart? Obviously so in some instances. I'm not defending Don Julio or Herradura nor am I disagreeing with the comments. I just wanted to add my thoughts about giving readers more information as to what you do like and prefere along with what you don't like or miss about a tequila. That being said, currently I have decided I don't like several bottles of tequila that I bought to do some comparisons. I could barely drink the Lunazul or the El Jimador repos when compared to a couple of favorites, Casa Noble, 3 Amigos, and Centinela. The last time I drank Herradura or Don Julio repo I enjoyed them more than the two I mentioned above. Things are always changing though and today I may find that I don't like them as much. Disappointingly, methods, materials, and managements do change at distilleries that will result in variations. In some cases rendering "classics" undrinkable. Today there are many tequila profiles that we just can't find anymore, Fina Estampa, ETWL, or Chinaco/1921. Some consistent top shelf tequilas that I do still enjoy include Fortaleza, Alquimia and Casa Noble. My taste preferences tend to be on the slightly sweeter, caramel fruity, earth and spice side of the spectrum. I also enjoy and like many tequilas that do not necessarily fit the above profile, such as Don Valente, Arrette, and Penca Azul, but that's just me. I'm sure that given no limits on money this post would change considerably. I'm still a virtual amateur when it comes to agave spirits. I'm just glad for the many artisan producers who really care about the tequila they bottle. Let's hope that "all good things must come to an end" doesn't always apply in the world of agave spirits.

I've tried over 100 tequilas but prefer anejos. I had previously enjoyed both DJ and Herradura anejos. I currently enjoy Siete Leguas, 4 Copas, Chinaco anejos, as well as El Tesoro regularly (but ET has been hard to find in Hawaii lately). My favorite tequila that is not too hard to get would be El Tesoro 70th.

Hoping the changes to DJ and Herradura are not permanent

[IceCold]

I've been away from the juice for awhile but I had picked up some Asombroso as a gift for a friend and was quite surprised to find he didn't like it at all, said it was syrupy and thick tasting.

Huh...

I'm gonna chalk it up to the long maturation of the agave, back when they were scarce the quality went up and people paid for good juice, now they're living on a name (like, I dunno, Patron) and cranking out cheap juice.

I have not been at all disappointed in my usual selection, Tres Mujeres reposado in the anfora, consistently delicious.

[1tequila2]

ChavoCheque, the tasting I was referring to is here:

History made at Cata de Tequila - Forbes

Thanks rrehkemper for the additional notes. We share similar likes. If we were drinking tequila together we would probably agree when we thought something wasn't good.

I was referring to the strap and teardrop versions of the 1921 and Chinco in the long lost profiles comment.

I purchased the price point Lunazul and Jimador while trying to find a true bargain tequila and not as an attempt to replace any of my favorites. I try to give any new tequila, regardless of price, several chances over time to impress me. I do like the idea of blind tastings. I'm sure there's something we could learn by doing a few.

[ncyankee]

1tequila2,

I agree with you 100% about the lunazul repo, I have only been drinking tequila seriously for about a year and that was one of the first ones I bought - even before I had tried many better ones I didn't like it at all, found it to have a sour soapy taste when I tasted it against 1800 repo I also had at the time.

I recently did a blind comparison with the last of it vs the 30-30 repo I recently bought at the same $20 price point, but I didn't even need to compare them because I picked up the Lunazul first and the taste made me gag.

I have had several decent under $20 tequilas lately, no need to blame the price point as a reason to settle for crappy tequila. El Ultimo, Camarena, 30-30 repo, espolon. (Hitime wine has Corazon blanco for $20 but it's around $30 here.) I don't love El Charro but it's serviceable for the $14 I paid for it.

I also recently tried the El Jimador repo and though it's not great IMHO it is much better than Lunazul.

Edit : I just read that article, I am surprised (but somewhat happy) to see that Corazon won as it was the first good blanco I tried and I loved it from the first sip, and is still my second favorite next to the Casa Noble Crystal I recently bought. (I have the older bottle with the long skinny neck.) OTOH I haven't tried many higher-end brands other than CN and El Tesoro anejo, Fortaleza is on my list. Liked Corazon better than Herradura and patron for sure.